The Collector's Book of Fluorescent Minerals

By Manuel A. Robbins

Book Overview

Over the last several decades, the number of people who are actively involved in the hobby or science of mineral collecting has grown at an increasing pace. In response to the growing demand for informa- tion which this large and active group has created, a number of books have been published dealing with mineralogy. As a result, the reader now has a choice among mineral locality guides, field handbooks, photo collections, or books dedicated to the systematic description of minerals. However, as interest in mineralogy has grown, as collectors have become increasingly knowledgeable and aware of mineralogy in its many facets, the need for more specialized information has also grown. Nowhere is this need greater than in the subject of the fluorescence of minerals. The number of collectors who now main- tain a fluorescent collection is substantial, interest is constantly increasing, and manufacturers have recently responded by the intro- duction of new ultraviolet equipment with major improvements in utility and performance. Yet when the collector searches for any information on this subject, little will be found. He or she will seek in vain for the answers to questions which present themselves as in- terest in fluorescent minerals grows and matures. Which minerals fluoresce? Where are fluorescent minerals found? What makes a mineral fluoresce? Why does ultraviolet light produce fluorescence? What is an activator, and how does it contribute to fluorescence? On these matters, the available mineralogy books are largely silent.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1475747942
• ISBN13: 9781475747942
• Release Date: March 2013
• Publisher: Springer
• Length: 289 Pages
• Weight: 1.23 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 7.0" x 10.0"

Customer Reviews

Early book with lots of easy reading

Manny's first book on Fluorescent minerals and a great read. Not as technical as his later book, but good stories about the mines and the miners. I am the author of "Collecting Fluorescent Minerals" and I really enjoyed learning from this book. It is expensive because it is out of print, but if you are serious about collecting Fluorescent Minerals, then this should be in your library (along with my book which is due out by June, 2004)

Fluorescent Minerals books

Although quite a bit of information in this expensive book is contained in Manuel Robbins later less expensive book, this is really a book that you should own or at least read. If you are intrigued and excited about collecting fluorescent minerals, this book is extremely easy to read and contains a wealth of information. I especially liked the story about his friend who worked in the Sterling Mine and collected interesting minerals. It put the rarity (although many are not that tough to find an example of) of the NJ fluorescent minerals into perspective. When you look at a piece of Hardystonite or Espirite, you really appreciate that you are looking at something rare and wonderful. The color charts in the book are handy and easy to work with. I am an author of books on antiques and collectibles and would love to write a book to identify fluorescent minerals. There is so much good, easily understandable material in this book that I would have trouble doing better. When the author M. Robbins wrote his next book, his technical buddies must have asked him to include lots of technical information. The second book is more like a graduate school textbook. I am not a geologist. I like to understand what I am reading. I enjoyed this book a great deal.